Mad Money w/ Jim Cramer – Episode Summary (11/18/25)

Podcast: Mad Money w/ Jim Cramer
Host: Jim Cramer (CNBC)
Air Date: November 19, 2025
Main Themes:

• Strategic stock buying in volatile markets
• The risks and reality of the AI data center boom
• Caution with AI tools like ChatGPT for research
• Interview with Blake Beretta, CEO of Rockwell Automation
• The popular Lightning Round with rapid stock takes

Episode Overview

Jim Cramer explores the pitfalls and opportunities for investors amidst a sharp market downturn, spotlighting the difference between disciplined, quality-focused buying and indiscriminate "buy the dip" behavior. The episode delves into the troubles brewing in the AI data center sector, fueled by massive, possibly unsustainable deals with OpenAI, highlighting the sudden reversal in Wall Street sentiment. The show also features a candid conversation with Rockwell Automation’s CEO on the trends in American reindustrialization and automation. Cramer wraps with a cautionary tale about relying on ChatGPT for critical financial research.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Market Sell-off: Buy the Dip vs. Buying Quality (01:54–09:30)

• Context: Major market decline (Dow -499, S&P -0.83%, Nasdaq -1.21%).

• Core Message: Cramer emphasizes the importance of buying quality stocks on weakness, not just blindly “buying the dip.”

  • Jim Cramer:

    "Dip buying or buying merchandise that's on sale because you trust the market long term ...? The former is a bad name ... The latter is considered both prudent and intelligent." [01:54]

• Strategy:

  • Buy in increments: Start small, keep cash on hand for further declines.
  • Pick high-quality companies: Look for those outside the “blast zone” (e.g., AI/data centers, Amazon, Apple, Kroger, Starbucks, Alphabet).
  • Diversify: Five-stock portfolios, some money in index funds, but avoid exotic ETFs and options.

• Notable Quotes:

  • "In a market like this, my favorite move is to buy small, something out of favor that's way down from its highs—ideally something that's just reported a stellar quarter and is getting zero credit for it." [08:46]

Stocks Discussed

• Nvidia: Reports tomorrow; high risk/high reward. "Nvidia remains the gold standard ... at the intersection of accelerated computing and artificial intelligence." [04:00]
• Amazon: Well-managed, recent bond deal to support data center needs—viewed as a buy on weakness. [05:32]
• Kroger: Bold strategic shift (outsourced e-commerce delivery), market overreacted, then rebounded. “Doing something smart.” [06:48]
• Starbucks: Opportunity at recent lows, confidence in management. [07:40]
• Alphabet: Strong YouTube/cloud businesses; recent sell-off viewed as entry point. [08:18]
• Apple: “Terrific price to start a position ... starting to show signs that its AI business is a really good idea.” [08:55]

2. Caller Q&A: How to Analyze Financials (09:30–11:58)

• Gregory from California: Learning to read balance sheets; asks about Pinterest with strong cash flow and minimal debt.
  • Cramer’s Take:

    “I think this is a tremendous level to start buying Pinterest.” [11:02]

    • Reinforces the strategy: Buy best-of-breed stocks during sell-offs, but don't go all-in at once.

3. AI Data Center Storm: From Boom to Skepticism (14:37–21:09)

• Shift in Sentiment: Wall Street has turned from loving to fearing AI data center stocks due to concerns over unsustainable commitments by OpenAI and the companies servicing its growth.

• Key Storyline:

  • Oracle, Nvidia, CoreWeave, and other companies raced after huge OpenAI deals (totaling over a trillion dollars of commitments).
  • Concern: “Nobody knows where OpenAI will find the money for this.” [16:10]
  • Oracle’s leadership shakeup and large debt issuance further spooked markets; CEO Safra Katz steps down amidst disagreement over costly expansion.

• Notable Quotes:

  • "Oracle is now paying for it with debt and that's become a very different story now." [20:04]
  • "[The] Achilles heel: Oracle's borrowing a fortune to build data centers for OpenAI, which has about $1.4 trillion in spending commitments that it may or may not be able to afford." [20:32]

4. Lightning Round: Rapid Stock Takes (23:12–26:52 & 35:01–39:33)

• Cramer's rapid-fire opinions:
  • Sea Limited (SE): Not enthusiastic, high P/E and uncertainty. [23:34; 36:14]
  • Fiserv: Surprised by sell-off, but would not add until a bounce occurs. [24:03; 36:44]
  • Rogers Communications: Positive, better than pure cable, Canada-based. [24:28; 37:09]
  • Amkor: Good, but Taiwan Semi dominates the field. Wait to see Nvidia's results. [25:32; 38:13]
  • Waste Management: Buy below $200; likes the company. [25:51; 38:34]
  • Starwood Properties (REIT): Not abandoning, trusts leadership despite high yield. [26:31; 39:13]

Interview Spotlight: Blake Beretta, CEO of Rockwell Automation (28:56–34:50)

Focus: Reindustrialization of America and the role of automation

• Growth in Domestic Manufacturing:

  • New US capacity orders up in 2025 and expected to accelerate.
  • Sectors: Semiconductors, data centers, pharmaceuticals, food/beverage, energy. [29:26]

• Automation & Labor Shortage:

  • High US labor costs make automation essential:

    “To be competitive ... you have to complement labor with technology.” (Blake Beretta, [29:59])

  • Rockwell is building a 1m sq. ft. facility in Wisconsin; robotics and efficiency are key. [30:32]

• Robotics & AI:

  • Mobile robots with onboard AI and Nvidia chips are optimizing factory logistics.
  • Smaller language models as well as large ones are being applied to factory automation.

• Outlook on Reshoring:

  • Reindustrialization is a "long-term play" not easily derailed by tariff changes or policy shifts. [33:58]

Artificial Intelligence: Cautionary Tale (40:36–end)

Topic: Can you trust ChatGPT for financial research?

• Personal Anecdote:
  Cramer needed to check if MP Materials still used China for rare earth refining. ChatGPT gave outdated/wrong answers, while Grok provided the recent, correct information.

  • ChatGPT admitted its mistake:

    “The mistake wasn't a bad fact, it was a bad process.” [43:45]

• Lesson for Listeners:

  “You simply can't count on programs like ChatGPT for research at this point ... Not reliable enough to trust on current event issues. Period.” [44:18]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On stock strategy:

  "Buy small, leave room to buy plenty more if we get additional weakness." (Jim Cramer, [08:46])

• On Oracle/Data Centers:

  "The implication here is that Oracle’s out of control ... Safra Katz ... was reportedly not on board with these wild plans. And so she left and dumped a ton of stock on her way out the door." [19:46]

• On trusting ChatGPT:

  "This is such a sobering wakeup call ... you simply can't count on programs like ChatGPT for research at this point." [44:18]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------|------------------| | Main theme introduction | 01:54–03:00 | | Market sell-off: Quality vs. Dip buying | 03:00–09:30 | | Caller Q&A: Reading Financials (Pinterest) | 09:30–11:58 | | AI data center sector analysis | 14:37–21:09 | | Lightning Round (first segment) | 23:12–26:52 | | Rockwell Automation CEO Interview | 28:56–34:50 | | Lightning Round (second segment) | 35:01–39:33 | | AI caution/ChatGPT story | 40:36–44:18 |

Episode Takeaways

• Don’t just buy the dip—focus on gradual, thoughtful purchases of quality stocks when they are unfairly beaten down.
• Be wary of hype cycles: The AI/data center craze is revealing cracks—do your diligence before buying in.
• Automation is accelerating America’s manufacturing revival, with Rockwell Automation in a key leadership position.
• Skeptical of AI tools: Even cutting-edge platforms like ChatGPT can make embarrassing, consequential mistakes—always double-check with reliable sources.
• CNBC Investing Club plug: Get access to Cramer’s research and moves.

For listeners:
Jim Cramer’s episode offers a blend of practical strategy, market skepticism, and humility in the face of both technology and Wall Street swings, with his trademark intensity and focus on helping investors prevail in confusing times.